Matt Parish was able to take few positives from his first full game in charge of Salford Reds.

Winning is clearly everything to the typically tough Aussie who was disappointed to see his new charges leak 21 second half points.

Parish’s men led 8-0 at the break but the tide turned due to a combination of referee Tom Roby being influenced by the home crowd and Salford’s own complacency.

Parish told MEN Sport: “We competed and we played well for 60 minutes. I didn’t get a lot from this game – we didn’t get the points and that’s what matters most.

“The effort was there and we could possibly have had more first half tries. We certainly bombed one in the second. We could also have controlled the ball better in the second half.

“The effort was definitely there but at the end of the day leaking 21 points is not acceptable, we’ve plenty to work on.

“It’s been a whirlwind eight days for me since I arrived.

“I now have some time to re-access, the players are due a break in what’s been a tough long season and they can come back refreshed. We can then take things from there.”

Parish was forced to reshuffle when Ashley Gibson and Stefan Ratchford pulled out of yesterday’s game with injuries.

Vinnie Anderson played centre and scored Salford’s try while young winger Danny Williams displayed a willingness throughout and Mark Henry was as solid as ever.

Unfortunately a couple of slips turned the tide. Parish added: “Any game you lose is disappointing. We need consistency but I guess there is no easy game in Super League. But we had put ourselves in a position to win.”

Parish now has a fortnight to intensify the set up and put more structures in place ahead of the home game with Leeds.

Reds’ play-off hopes now look slim but if this is what Parish can do in eight days then just what he may be capable of over an eight-month season offers grounds for optimism. The new man has certainly impressed football director Steve Simms.

Parish liaised closely yesterday with his assistant Phil Veivers. Between them, they must come up with a formula to guarantee Reds stay in the hunt for the full 80 minutes.

Had Salford matched their first half heroics after the game, Parish would today be reflecting on a winning start.

As so often this season, heads dropped when Rovers took charge and the guile and drive of skipper Daniel Holdsworth was often not complemented by those around him.